Jersey Shore Weekend: Swim or Stay on the Sand

Sunshine and Thunderstorms at Jersey Shore

Jersey Shore Weekend: Swim or Stay on the Sand

It's looking like a beautiful weekend at the Jersey Shore, with sunlight and pleasant temps that will make it feel like summer has arrived early, so get your beach chairs and sunscreen. Is it a beach day? Yes, but don't be too fast to get into the water.

Highs in Monmouth and Ocean counties are predicted to reach the mid-70s to low-80s this weekend, according to forecasts from NOAA's National Weather Service and AccuWeather. However, according to NOAA buoy measurements close to Barnegat, ocean water temperatures off the Jersey Shore are still in the low 50s, which is frigid enough to deter beachgoers. It's the quintessential early-season disconnect: beautiful skies and warm beach, but very chilly Atlantic water.

For the majority of beachgoers, that means two wonderful days to relax in the sun, stroll along the boardwalk, or sit in the sand; it's simply not the best time to go swimming.

Plus, according to the National Weather Service, Rip Current forecasts for the 2026 season are now in effect. There is a MODERATE Risk for the development of dangerous & life threatening rip currents at the Jersey Shore & Delaware Beaches. Ocean temps in the 50s may result in hypothermia! According to AccuWeather and NOAA projections, Sunday will be much warmer, with sunshine and highs in the upper 70s and low 80s at the beaches and hotter inland.

Why the Jersey Shore Ocean Water is Still so Cold?
Even as air temperatures climb across the Garden State, many beachgoers heading to the Jersey Shore are surprised to find the ocean water still feels freezing. The chilly temperatures are caused by several factors, including cold ocean currents flowing down from the north and a weather pattern known as “upwelling,” where strong winds push warmer surface water away from the coast and bring colder water from deeper in the Atlantic up to the surface.

Water temperatures also warm much more slowly than the air during the spring, meaning it can take weeks of consistently warm weather before swimmers notice a significant difference. Despite sunny skies and warm sand, ocean temperatures along the Jersey Shore often remain in the 50s and low 60s well into late spring and early summer.